FOROYAA Newspaper (Serrekunda)
Kebba Camara
3 July 2009
Mr. Karapha Sanneh, the Manager of Sifoe Farm in Kombo South, who was arrested on Thursday, the 25th June, was on Thursday, 3rd July, arraigned before Magistrate Pa Harry Jammeh of the Brikama Magistrates' Court and charged with three counts.
Count One: 'Giving false information to public officers. The particulars of offence indicate that Karapha Sanneh in 2007, in Siyon village, allegedly said that the 100 bags of sugar given to the villagers should not be shared among them knowing that that information is false, thereby commits an offence'.
Count two: 'Giving false documents to people. The particulars of offence indicate that, Karapha Sanneh in June 2009 at Sambuya sand mining site, allegedly uttered false documents to public officers thereby committing an offence'.
And count three: 'Operating a company called Sibinino without operating licence, thereby commiting an offence'.
He pleaded not guilty to all the three counts.
The police prosecutor, ASP Yaya Touray, applied for a 'denial of bail' to the accused person arguing that they are still investigating the matter. ASP Touray said an amount of D2.9 million was recovered from his business and there are other records that are yet to be recovered. ASP Touray said if the accused person is granted bail, he might tamper with their investigation and that the other records might not be recovered.
Defence counsel Lamin Jobarteh argued that if the prosecution was not ready with their investigations, then they should not bring the accused person to the court. He quoted section 24, subsection (3) of the Constitution that the accused person should be presumed innocent until he has been proven or has pleaded guilty. Lawyer Jobarteh said the accused person has been in custody for 7 days without trial which, he said, is unconstitutional. He cited section 99 and subsection (1) and (2) of the Criminal Procedure Code to support his argument.
Magistrate Jammeh ruled that even though the offence is bailable he would use his discretion not to grant him bail as at now. He added that he would give the prosecution the chance to complete their investigation into the matter. He therefore remanded the accused until the 16 July, 2009.
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